6/29/16

Maybe it's just me, but I'm convinced there was a lake nearby. I'd like to think it was Tahoe or Donner because they're both very important in my life. The reality is that this could be anywhere pines grow. Vintage images travel long distances once released from their original owners. So if it makes you feel better to think they were in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York go for it. We each bring what we want to vintage snapshots.

6/24/16

My dad used to read to me every night when he was home. The first few years of my life he was gone a lot during the Korean war. Then for many years he was traveling making training films. But when he was home bedtime meant story time. I don't remember my mom reading to me, but she probably did.

Click on image to see it larger.

I love this photo of the woman and child snug in the hammock on a summer day. Close your eyes and imagine the sounds of her voice and the birds in the trees, the feeling of a breeze lightly touching your skin, and the warmth of the child's body next to yours.

6/23/16

The interesting fellow with the thin fingers and the odd hair has a secret. We'll never actually know what his right hand looks like. I'm presuming it's just a reverse of his left hand, but who really knows. Not exactly one of the mysteries of life, but come on. Open up your right hand.

Interestingly, her hand looks the same as his only smaller. Same long fingers. Shall we call them slim pickens?

The real joy in this photo is seeing him and the lady so happy. At least he appears happy. She looks content. Sometimes content is enough.

And I finally found the first photo I'd posted of him back in November of 2014. For him, his hair is a bit messy and I feel as if he's about to tap-dance out of the frame at any minute. A little shuffle off to Centralia.

6/22/16

At some point in the past I featured this fellow, but now I can't find the post. No problem; I have two more photos of him. I'm fascinated by his left hand. Such thin fingers. Did he play the piano? He has the hands for it; or at least a left hand for it. He has the hair for it. Can't you just imagine him striking the keys madly while his hair flies around? Or perhaps his hair didn't move. It is a strange hairdo.

As to what "Deluxe Centralia" means embossed on the card...don't have a clue. Any ideas?_____

6/21/16

It's always sad to find an image like this with such damage, but it's nice knowing that it can be easily fixed with Photoshop. She's shop worn and was tossed aside. I liked her and respected what she was doing. She was stylin'!

6/10/16

Summer isn't officially here, but the weather outside would beg to differ. And this week's Sepia Saturday image has that wonderful carefree summer feeling to it.

The strange photo below is my response. I actually have never been able to figure out if this is a double or triple exposure. There's so much going on in front of the young fellas standing by the river. Someone flies through the air while someone below takes a running stance about to charge towards the photographer. Heatstroke. That's what caused this image. No other explanation. Someone forgot to advance the film.

Saddened to hear of the passing of one of our fellow Sepians. Thanks to the net Barbara's hard work will live on._____

6/4/16

A few weeks of dealing with caregiver things followed by three days in Humboldt County for the Kinetic Sculpture Race has me a bit tired.

I could use a nice quiet picnic by a stream. But this shot has me curious. Who took the photo? Was there a fifth person at the picnic or was there another couple and one of them didn't want to appear in the photo without their partner? It's a thought that often crosses my mind when I find a group snapshot with an even amount of people in the shot. I seriously doubt that it was someone walking down the stream who said, "Hey, want me to take your picture?" And most blessed is that it's not a selfie.

Search Tattered and Lost

An American Dream at AMAZON

The American dream of owning a home through vintage vernacular photographs. The focus is on the people who lived within the homes as well as the varied architecture from the late 1800s to the 1960s.

FORGOTTEN DOLLS at amazon

A journey via vintage snapshots through the world of dolls and their owners from the early part of the 20th century to the 1960s. This is volume 7 in the Tattered and Lost Vernacular Photography series.

The Quiet Art of Reading at Amazon

Before being overwhelmed by a future of snapshots of people staring at nondescript tablets and smartphones, it would be nice to be reminded of the romance of reading a worn copy of a favorite book in a quiet and comfortable place. The beauty of the act of reading should be celebrated. That is what this book attempts to do.

BUCKAROOS AND BUCKARETTES at Amazon

Tattered and Lost: Buckaroos and Buckarettes is a collection of vintage snapshots for those who remember riding the range when they were kids. These adventures usually consisted of sitting in front of a black and white television or running around the neighborhood with our shiny six-guns strapped to our sides. Our imaginations created entire worlds that never existed. We sang along with our heroes, convinced that with a song in our heart and a six-gun on our hip we could vanquish evil. This book is dedicated to all the other buckaroos and buckarettes who rode their imaginations into the sunset while humming Happy Trails. Buy it at Amazon.

CAKES, PICNICS, AND WATERMELON at Amazon

Collecting vintage photographs starts out innocent enough with a few snapshots here and there, but at some point it becomes a bit more obsessive and you find yourself longing for the next image that makes you laugh or ponder the irrefutable confusion of being human. This book, Tattered and Lost: Cakes, Picnics, and Watermelon, the fourth in a series, shows the quirky world of sharing food from the 1890s to the 1970s in the United States. Sit back and enjoy watching people cut cakes (some people do it with such style!), go on picnics without your relatives, and watch people eat watermelon. Yes, eat watermelon. An odd category for sure, but one sure to make you smile. Buy it at Amazon.

Vernacular Photographs at Amazon

Tattered and Lost: Vernacular Photographs, is volume 1 in my self-published books showing photos from my collection. Photographs play off each other on facing pages asking the viewer to come to their own conclusion as to what they are looking at. Included is a photo of the Pennsylvania Railroad S1 steam locomotive, designed by Raymond Loewy, on display at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. And one of the few known copies of a photo taken by Rudolph D’Heureuse in 1863 proving there were indeed camels used by the U. S. Cavalry is included. So take a step back in time and visit with some folks who long ago smiled and said “cheese” never knowing how long those smiles would last. Buy it at Amazon.

TELLING STORIES at Amazon

In need of writing prompts? Looking for a gift for a friend who loves vintage photographs? Tattered and Lost: Telling Stories is now available from CreateSpace and Amazon. Click on the image to find out more! Buy it at Amazon.

CHILDHOOD at Amazon

A new and expanded edition of Tattered and Lost: Childhood. Available at CreateSpace and Amazon. Better price, more pages, larger trim size. Click on the image to read more about it. Buy it at Amazon.

TRAVELING WITH CHARLIE

Looking for a blog that makes watching paint dry seem exciting? Click to experience everything but the fumes.

Tattered and Lost Too

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What is Tattered and Lost?

Tattered and Lost is about some of the found and/or vernacular photography in my collection.

Unless you're an incredibly organized person you probably have a few stray photos tucked away that you've forgotten about. No matter how many family members or friends say they love you, sooner or later, a photo of you is going to slip through the cracks and end up in the hands of someone who knows nothing about you. Such are the photos at this site.

THE PHOTOS

Photographs of the ordinary by the ordinary.
All photos are from my private collection. They may NOT be used in any manner without my permission. I retain all copyrights for everything published on this site unless specified as belonging to someone else.